What does the BBall team need to do to make it to the tourney next year?

[arealcat]

Just wondering what everyone thinks they need to improve on. I think we need to get out an run a lot more. I keep hearing how we have something like 150 plays or whatever... who cares this is basketball, you do not need that many plays. We should stop being so one dimensional and let our shooters and guards score instead of always trying to pound it down low. Just my opinion.

[Panthers#1]

we need to have people who are not afraid to just shoot the ball instead of running through the whole play. Yes you need to see every angle but after your opponent sees the same thing every time, you need to mix it up a bit.

[Matt Trump]

Better PG play. Someone who can guard J.J. Tauai. Jordan Egleseder, Kwadzo, Koch to play at an all-conference level. Coleman to start going right.

[BCPanther]

Didn't JJ Tauai finally run out of eligibility??

[Khan4Cats]

So did Funk, I hope

[Panthers to the Bone]

Ahearn, Tatum, Young, Kyle Wilson, Tolliver, Dilligard, Will Franklin, Matt Webster, Strickland, Anslinger, Nick Porter, Chaney, and Bilyeau!

Man, what a class to graduate. Thank goodness they aren't going to be back next season!

IMO, UNI will have strong depth. They will have a good blend of experienced upperclassmen and underclassmen. They will have 4 post players who each bring something different to the table, while probably redshirting a highly promising one. UNI will have more athleticism in the backcourt. They will lose some leadership, experience, and knowledge of a huge system with Brooks graduating, but hopefully there will be enough bodies to help replace him (not one person, but multiple).

UNI's schedule (as listed at the top of the BB forum page), is going to be tough once again, however, if UNI can win all their home games (16 as of now), win at SDSU, UMKC, UW-M, they will be up to 19 wins without going on the road in the conference. Win 3-4 on the road and you will be at 22-23 wins in the regular season (with an additional game TBD). Win 4-5 on the road, and you are putting yourself in solid position for a regular season title...and in the last 8 years, the regular season champ has been invited to the NCAA's.

I think the thing UNI has to avoid is the double digit losses. 9 losses and below, and UNI is probably looking at NCAA Tourney or bubble. 10-11 losses and we are talking NIT. 12-13, and we're right back in the same spot as this year.

['70 Grad]

They will lose some leadership, experience, and knowledge of a huge system with Brooks graduating




if UNI can win all their home games

When has this happened last? I hope we can get a win over Drake in the McLeod!

I'm afraid the loss of Brooks will really show.

[BCPanther]

I agree Grad. I think that guard play early in the season may be pretty rough...

[BonduBluejay10]

I know the Valley was really deep this year but the panthers lost too many games that they should have won (drake ill st.) with the good incoming class the panthers have if they can do that they should be in good shape.

[Panthers#1]

I'm afraid the loss of Brooks will really show.

__________

[panther2317]

score more points...allow less points.

[SteinPizza]

Is the WCF Courier planning a player-by-player, end of season breakdown like they've done the last few years? That was a pretty interesting read, with Mac's comments on what they did well, needed to improve on, etc. I'd be curious to hear Jake's take on guys like Kerwin, Egelseder, Kwazdo, Viet, etc.

[jman2004]

I'm afraid the loss of Brooks will really show.

Show what? It's hard to say that his loss is going to "really show" when the past season with him as our on-the-court-leader, was probably our worst season in the last three.

We may miss that take charge attitude that Brooks brought early on next season, but the team will find a new leader. I for one am excited about the guard play and don't expect it to start slow one bit. I think we'll be much more deep than we were this season.

Brooks was a good on-the-court-leader, but sacrificing that and getting a little bit more athleticism at the point (more ability to push fast breaks) is not going to hurt this team. Like I said, they'll find a new leader, every team does.

If Kwadzo could develop half of Brooks' leadership capabilities, in three years he could be something special.

['70 Grad]

jman-

I usually agree with your posts (more than some here do).

We could & should get a new leader - BUT, how fast it happens and the quality is not a given. Just saying it will happen is no guarantee.

My post was directed mostly to those that say Jordan is the only answer we need. I disagree that that is all we need concern ourselves with. As an old coach, I think that quarterback on the floor is so important. Veteran PG's are just great to have. They don't have to score. They must break the press, run the offense, and feed the post before the big men get the glory.

They do, however, need to defend also!

I hope we don't miss Brooks. (and Grant) That means we should be a good team next year - at least as good as this one was. I do know he played a lot of minutes this year - for a reason. Lets hope our replacements are faster, can shoot & defend better and have some of the BB IQ & heart that we need.
We lost some of the starters from the last 3 glory years going into this season. We lose the other two for next year. I do think their legacy of improved recruiting will be another of their contributions. But our returning players have to get after it. Otherwise it is just us posters giving our opinions.

Which we do like to do! Keep it up jman - no kool aid for either of us.

[Panthers#1]

Show what? It's hard to say that his loss is going to "really show" when the past season with him as our on-the-court-leader, was probably our worst season in the last three.

We may miss that take charge attitude that Brooks brought early on next season, but the team will find a new leader. I for one am excited about the guard play and don't expect it to start slow one bit. I think we'll be much more deep than we were this season.

Brooks was a good on-the-court-leader, but sacrificing that and getting a little bit more athleticism at the point (more ability to push fast breaks) is not going to hurt this team. Like I said, they'll find a new leader, every team does.

If Kwadzo could develop half of Brooks' leadership capabilities, in three years he could be something special.

You hit the nail right on the head.